Seol Young-ho, known by his nickname "Nat Dokkaebi," returns to the cage after a year away. [YouTube: Seol Young-ho Research Lab]
Seol Young-ho, known by his nickname "Nat Dokkaebi," returns to the cage after a year away. [YouTube: Seol Young-ho Research Lab]

TFC 24 will be held Oct. 23 at the Event Hall on the third floor of the Textile Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The promotion officially announced the event schedule on Wednesday and revealed one of the main card bouts: a welterweight matchup between "Nat Dokkaebi" Seol Young-ho (32, KTT) and former Deep champion Watanabe Yuta (41, Japan).

The event carries the subtitle "Break Through," a message the promotion said is meant to encourage everyone facing hardship to confront their trials head-on — just as fighters push past their limits to move forward.

The pairing is a striking one. Seol, who comes from a street-fighting background, holds a modest professional record of two wins and one loss from minor-circuit bouts and will be making his TFC debut. Despite that, the promotion has given him an unusually prominent billing, introducing him as the "face of TFC's welterweight division" and expressing high expectations.

Watanabe, by contrast, is a seasoned veteran with a 23-win, 14-loss record who shows no signs of slowing down at 41 — he has already fought twice this year. On paper, he holds a commanding edge over Seol.

Official poster for TFC 24
Official poster for TFC 24

Seol has built a strong following through YouTube and talent shows, winning fans over with his explosive fighting style and distinct personality. He returns to competition after a year away, having overcome a back injury, and has vowed to deliver a victory with sharper skills and a more polished performance.

Watanabe issued a pointed challenge ahead of the bout. "I will take away the Nat Dokkaebi's club and sink him slowly and mercilessly," he said. "With a meticulous strategy and bold striking, I will create an upset and give the fans a fight they will go wild for." Seol has not yet responded publicly.

TFC Chairman Park Chang-beom, who also serves as chairman of the Korea Digital Asset Certification and Evaluation, said the promotion would spare no effort in providing fighters with the best possible infrastructure and support. "We are making every preparation to deliver an unforgettable event for the fans," he said.

TFC 24 is scheduled to feature 10 bouts in total — six on the main card and four on the undercard. The promotion said additional matchups befitting a numbered event are being finalized and will be announced in stages.


yjc@heraldcorp.com